Chapter XXIII · An Old Score Settled

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Sam, the Shark and Hagle made for the lake shore.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

for the reason that

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

a state of being confined (usually for a short time)

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

precise; explicit and clearly defined

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

past form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent

From this reading Hagle displayed utter docility.

the trait of being agreeably submissive and manageable

From this reading Hagle displayed utter docility.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

to certain extent or degree

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

start firing a weapon

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Sam, the Shark and Hagle made for the lake shore.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Sam, the Shark and Hagle made for the lake shore.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading Sam, the Shark and Hagle made for the lake shore.

young sheep

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Sam, the Shark and Hagle made for the lake shore.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

not any; not one

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

on one occasion

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

past form of “penetrate” — pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

in the near future

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

plural of “pursuer” — a person who is pursuing and trying to overtake or capture

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading Sam, the Shark and Hagle made for the lake shore.

any of numerous elongate mostly marine carnivorous fishes with heterocercal caudal fins and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales

From this reading Sam, the Shark and Hagle made for the lake shore.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading Sam, the Shark and Hagle made for the lake shore.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

past form of “slacken” — become slow or slower

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

express in speech

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

not in physical motion

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Sam, the Shark and Hagle made for the lake shore.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

in or at that place or location

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading He had done his utmost to evade capture, but, once in the custody of his pursuers, no lamb could have offered less resistance.

articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise

From this reading Hagle displayed utter docility.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading This was not so much because of any far-seeing, definite plan, as because this was the line of least resistance, so to speak, and because the lake itself offered escape, should the fire cut them off from flight by land.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading At this point there was still a fairly broad belt of woods which the fire had not penetrated, and Sam, presently, slackened his pace.